Life-preserver.



W. G. BROKAW.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1915.

Patented Nov. 1 6, 1915.

WILLIAM G. BBOKA'W, OE HIGHPOINT, NORTH CAROLINA.

LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application filed March 1, 1915. Serial No. 11,413.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. BROKAW, a citizen of the United States residing at High Point, in thecounty of (lruilford and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to life preservers of the type that may be attached to, or detached from, a garment. Life preservers of this type have been shown, described and claimed in my co-pending applications Serial No. 878,059, filed December 19, 1.914, and Serial No. 7,005, filed February 9, 1915. The present invention is directed to certain improvements in life preservers of the type disclosed in my prior applications.

The life preserver of the present invention is of the inflatable type, is made in the form of a collar, and preferably a collar of the shape worn on sailors shirts, although the particular design of the collar is not material to the present invention. The rubber bag constituting the life preserver is inserted between the two layers of a cover ofv cloth, or other suitable material. The life preserver, or its inclosing cover, is provided with fastener members which are arranged to cooperate with other fastener members arranged about the collar opening of a vest, whereby the life preserving collar maybe detachably fastened to the vest, so as to constitute a collar therefor. The advantage of this arrangement is, that when,

worn attached to a vest, the life preserver will be entirely concealed bythe wearers coat, and at the same time will'be in position for immediate use. One of the forward extensions of the life preserver is preferably provided with an inflating tube, whose end carries the ordinary valve, and a mouth piece is provided whereby the wearer of the life preserver may readily inflate the same. The inflating tube preferably passes through a hole in the vest, and is concealed by the vest, but may be readily drawn out When needed for use. Preferably, the layers of material within which the life preserver is inclosed have their adJacent edges secured together by detachable fastenings along the rear edge of the collar, whereby the life preserver may be readily insert-f ed between such layers, or withdrawn therefrom, when desired. This arrangement provides for easy withdrawalof the life preserver from its cover when the latter is to be laundried, or separation of the life preserver from its cover is desired for any other purpose.

Preferablystraps are secured to the two Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vest showing the life preserver attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is arear elevation of the vest and life preserver illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the life prm server.

The life preserver comprises an inflatable bag'6, of rubber or other suitable material, preferably composed of upper and lower layers which are united at their edges by cement orother suitable means in the usual manner of making similar devices. The inflatable bag 6 is made in the form of a collar, as shown, although the particular design of the collar is not material to the present invention. Such collar is provided with a broad body portion, and with two for Wardly extended ends 8 to one of which is connected the usual inflating tube 10,-which may be provided with a mouth piece 12, and the usual valve for retaining the air in the inflatable bag. As shown, the life preserver 6 is inclosed between the layers of a cloth cover 14, the upper layer of the cover having two forwardly extended ends 16, shaped substantially as, but slightly larger than the forwardly extended ends 8 of. the life preserver 6, and overlying said ends. The extended ends 16 of the cover are provided with a plurality of fastener members 18 arranged at intervals as shown, and similar members are applied to the lower layer of .the cover 14 at points between the extensions 16, and in continuation of the fastener mem bers 18 along the edges of said extensions, as will clearly appear from Fig. 3.

hen con- 4 The rear edges of the layers of the cover 14 are open, and the upper layer is provided with a flap 26 which overlaps the rear edge of the under layer of the cover. Fastening members are applied to the inside of the flap 26, and also to that portion of the edge of the under layer of the cover which is beneath said flap, as indicated by dotted lines 27 in Fig. 3. By these means the rear edge of the cover for the life preserver may be closed to retain the life preserver therein, or by separating the fasteners 27 the rear edge of the cover will provide an opening through which the life preserver 6 may be withdrawn for any purpose, when desired.

The vest 30, in connection with which this life preserver is to be'worn, has along 1ts collar opening, and in the spaces between said opening and its arm holes a plurahty of fastener members 22, which are located in proper positions to cooperate with the several fastener members 18 on the extensions 16 of the cover 14, and the space around the I back of the cover between sald extensions on the cover, as above described. This provides'for a detachable connection between the cover 14, containing the life preserver,

and the vest 30, so that said cover when it is" attached to the vest, will in effect form a collar for the vest. The inflating tube 10 is arranged to enter an opening 31 in the vest, and passes down between the vest and the body of the wearer so as to be entirely concealed from view and out of the way when the life preserving collar is connected with the vest. 1

At each outer corner of the life preserver a strap 28 is attached, and one of said straps carries at its end a buckle 29. These straps are adapted to pass loosely through the arm holes of the vest, and to lie along the wearers g body as indicated inFig. 1, when the life I preserving collar is beingworn upon the vest; In the event that the life preserver should be needed the ends of the straps are brought together in front of the wearer and by means of the buckle are secured to each other so asto hold the life preserver firmly against the wearers back.

In the use of'this invention, the bag 6 of the life preserver would be in a normally collapsed condition and would lay flat across the weareps back with its front end portions partly surrounding his neck. Being connected with the vest, the wearers coat would entirely cover and conceal the life preserver,

so that the fact that'it was being worn would not be known; at the same time the arrange- .ment of the life preserver on-the wearers vest in a flat'condition would enable it to be carried with no inconvenience to the wearer. If it was found necessary to use the life preserver thetube 10 would be withdrawn from beneath the vest, and the life preserver in-- 'flate'd. The straps 28 would then be passed about the wearersbody and secured in front.

by the buckle. The coat being removed, the life preserver would then be 1n position for use, so that if the wearer was thrown into thewater the buoyant effect of the device would serve to sustain him, without requiring any effort upon his part. This life preserver is also capable of use as a pillow, for, by inflating the bag the device ma be placed under the wearers head and will provide a comfortable rest.

Another advantage of this life preserver is that it is capable of being folded into a very small compass so that it may be carried in a bag, envelop, or other convenient receptacle and may be used by travelers who will thus be enabled to carry with them, at all times, a life preserver which is capable of attachment to the collar of a vest, whendesired, and so as to be in position for immediate use in case the wearer should be suddenly thrown, or should fall into the water from any cause, accidental or otherwise.

The right'is reserved to all changes in the form, design, or arran ement of the several elements of this invention as might be made without departing from its true scope as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a vest, of a life preserver made in the form of a collar and cooperating fastening members carried by the vest and life preserver, respectively, for detachably connecting said parts with each other.

2. The combination with a vest provided with fastening membersarranged at intervals thereon, of a collar having cooperating fastening members, and a life preserver inclosed within said collar.

3. The combination with a vest having fastening members arranged about the neck opening, of a life-preserving collar having fastening members arranged to cooperate .having forwardly extended ends, an inflatable life preserver made in conformity with the shape of said collar and inclosed between said layers, and cooperating fastening devices located on said Vest and collar for detachably securing said parts together.

5. The combination with a vest, of a collar made of superposed layers of material, one of said layers having forward extensions, a life preserver inclosed between said layers and having extensions arranged to underlie said collar extensions, fastening members arranged along the edges of the collar extensions, and other fastening members located about the neck opening of the vest and between said opening and the arm holes, and arranged to cooperate with the fastening members on said collar.

6. The combination with a vest having fastening members arranged at intervals about the neck opening, said vest being provided with a hole near one shoulder, of a collar composed of layers of material and provided'with fastening members arranged to cooperate with the fastening members on the vest, a life preserver inclosed between 10 said layers and having forward extensions, and an inflating tube connected with one of said extensions andarranged to enter said hole so as to lie back of said vest.

' WM. G. BROKAW. Witnesses:

JAMES BLACK, ARTHUR HUSK. 

